While gridlock and division in Washington make it difficult for either party or ideology to set the policy agenda, single-party government prevails in three-quarters of the states. In 23 states Republicans control the governorship and both houses of the legislature, and in 13 states Democrats enjoy one-party control. Comparing economic growth, education, health care, quality of life and environment, and the strength of civil society, do red or blue states win out?

Presented in partnership with The Philanthropy Roundtable for their 2013 Annual Meeting in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

Gray Davis

Joseph "Gray" Davis was overwhelmingly elected the 37th governor of California in 1998, winning 58% of the vote. As Governor, he made education a top priority, signing legislation to strengthen California's K-12 system by establishing the Academic Performance Index to increase accountability in schools, and expanding access to higher education with a record number of scholarships and college loans. These reforms improved student achievement scores for six consecutive years.

Davis was also proud to fund and establish Institutes of Science and Innovation in partnership with the University of California and leading private industry; these Institutes are appropriately named after the Governor. Today, Davis is Of Counsel at Loeb & Loeb, LLP, a member of the bi-partisan Think Long Committee, a senior fellow at the UCLA School of Public Affairs, and Honorary Co-Chair of the Southern California Leadership Council. He has also served as lieutenant governor, state controller, and state assemblyman. He began his public service as a captain in the U.S. Army, earning the Bronze Star for meritorious service in Vietnam.

John Donvan

John Donvan is the moderator for "Intelligence Squared U.S." He is an author and correspondent for ABC News. He has hosted "Nightline," "World News," "Good Morning America," and NPR’s “Talk of the Nation,” in addition to producing “My Generation” for PBS. He has also served as ABC’s Chief White House correspondent and held postings in London, Jerusalem, Moscow and Amman. Recognized by the National Magazine Awards for his 2011 Atlantic profile piece “Autism’s First Child,” he is currently writing a book on the history of autism to be published by Crown in 2013.

Hugh Hewitt

Hugh Hewitt is an American radio talk show host, author and blogger. He comments on politics and society from a conservative and evangelical Christian viewpoint, and frequently expresses his opinions on Media bias in the United States.
Hewitt is also a law professor at Chapman University School of Law, and Executive Editor of Townhall.com.

Michael Lind

Michael Lind is a co-founder of New America in Washington, D.C., where he is the policy director of its Economic Growth Program. Lind became New America’s first fellow in 1999, and he co-wrote its manifesto, The Radical Center (2001), with Ted Halstead. With Sherle Schwenninger, Lind co-founded the American Strategy Program, named after his book The American Way of Strategy (2006). A graduate of the University of Texas and Yale University, Lind has taught at Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University and has been an editor or staff writer for The New Yorker, Harper’s, The New Republic, and The National Interest. Lind is a columnist for Salon and writes frequently for The New York Times and The Financial Times. He is the author of numerous books of history, political journalism, fiction, poetry, and children’s literature. His most recent book is Land of Promise: An Economic History of the United States (2012).

Stephen Moore

Stephen Moore, who formerly wrote on the economy and public policy for The Wall Street Journal, is a Fox News contributor and the distinguished visiting fellow for the Project for Economic Growth at the Heritage Foundation. Moore, who also was a member of the Journal’s editorial board, returned to Heritage in January 2014, about 25 years after his tenure as the Grover M. Hermann Fellow in Budgetary Affairs. His current work focuses on advancing public policies that increase the rate of economic growth to help the U.S. retain its position as the global economic superpower. He also works on budget, fiscal, and monetary policy and showcases states that get fiscal houses in order. Moore calls his creation of the Club for Growth, which helps elect conservative members of Congress, the defining moment of his career. He next founded the Free Enterprise Fund, before joining The Wall Street Journal.